Curtain-fastener.



c. E. GHAMBERLIN'. CURTAIN FASTWEB.

APPLICATION FILED APBJB, 1905.

NEEM-.Uil-

PATENTBD JULY 23, 1907.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEroE.,

CHARLES E. CHAMBERLIN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

CURTAIN-FASTENER.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. CHAMBERLIN, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, a citizen of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Curtain-Fasteners, of which the following is a specication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates generally to curtain fasteners, and particularly to a vehicle curtain fastener especially designed for use in connection with automobiles.

The invention consists in the novel and simple construction of the curtain fastener; further, in the peculiar construction of the cross bar; and still further, in certain details of construction as will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of my improved fastener; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the fastener post; Fig. 3 is a detached perspective view of the cross bar; Fig. 4 is a side elevation, showing the fastener with the curtain detached; Fig. 5 is a perspective view, showing the cross bar in alinement with the post, as in the act of withdrawing the curtain; and Fig. 6 is a plan view, partly in section, illustrating the position of the cross bar when retracted.

The reference-letter A designates a suitable base plate, upon which is mounted a supporting post B, provided with a vertical longitudinally extending slot C, the post being of a suitable size to receive the usual eyes E of the curtains F, such as are ordinarily employed for automobiles.

yPivoted upon a cross pin D in the upper portion of the slotted post is a cross bar G, formed preferably in this instance from a single sheet of metal, such as spring brass, the metal being folded upon itself centrally so as to double the same, forming at one end the loop a, and having its opposite free ends preferably bent outwardly, as illustrated, thus forming inclined diverging members b. Between the bar ends and the loop described I form preferably circular enlargements, as c, which serve as friction plates, and assist in holding the cross bar in the various positions in which it is turned. The pivot opening d in the cross bar which receives the pin D is elongated longitudinally of the bar, so that either one or both eyes E of the curtain may be put upon the post, it being obvious that if there was simply a pivot-hole and the eyes were placed upon the postthe cross bar could not be turned down Without striking the upper eye, thus preventing the withdrawal of the curtain. These elongated slots d,-formed one in each of the members or sections of the cross bar,-are also proportioned in length, so that the bar ends cannot be drawn flush with the sides of the post when the bar is in a position transverse thereto.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application fired April 18,1905. serial No. 256,319.

Patented July 23, 1907.

In operation, the cross bar is turned by the operator into alinement with the post, the diver-ging ends being compressed during the turning movement to permit of this position. The eyes of the curtain are then arranged upon the post, and the cross bar subsequently turned into its transverse position, where it acts to hold the curtains in place. While the short diverging `ends upon the cross bar may be compressed suflciently to permit of the application of the curtains, the amount of compression required is greatly in eX- cess of any that might be exerted upon the bar by the wind pressure on the curtains or jolting of the vehicle. Consequently, they positively prevent the curtains from being detached after being once secured. In the ordinary curtain fastener, it is necessary, in applying the curtains, to turn the bar in alinement with the post, then into a transverse position, and, in a great many instances, when the cross pin is at the end of the slot, to thereafter force the bar endwise, so as to bring it upon opposite sides of the post in a posi-l tion to retain the curtain. This last step is in many cases overlooked, with the result that the flapping of the curtain throws the bar into alinement with the post, and thus becomes detached. In my improved fastener, the cross bar is automatically thrown into the transverse position upon opposite sides of the post by means of the spring ends, thus insuring the proper fastening. The spring members referred to at no time are brought ush with the post, by reason of the proper proportioning of the bar slots, the' distance from each to the free end of its spring member being greater than the distance from the cross-pin to the edge of the post slot, so that the instant the bar is turned even slightly out of alinement with the post,- sufciently to permit the ends to project but a slight distance therebeyond,-they act, by the spring of the metal, to draw the bar in a transverse direction until the ends are entirely free from the post slot, when the bar is then a sufficient distance on either side of the post to afford the proper contact with the curtain.

What I claim as my invention is,-

1. A vehicle curtain fastener comprising a slotted post, a cross pin near the top of the post, a cross bar, pivoted in the post top on said pin, having a spring section at one end extending at an angle to the plane of the slot, the pivot opening in the cross bar.being elongated longitudi nally of said bar and the distance from said opening to th(-1 free end of said spring section being greater than the distance from the cross pin to the edge of the post slot to prevent the spring section from being drawn flush with the post while transverse thereto.

2. A vehicle curtain fastener, comprising a vertically slotted post, a doubled spring cross bar of a length exceeding the width of the post, having its free ends fashioned to form inclined diverging members, and a cross pin near the post top on which the cross bar is pivoted, the crossbar members or sections being provided with longitudinally elongated slots to receive the cross pin, and the distance from said slots to the free ends of said cross bar being greater than the distance from said pin to the edge of the post slot, to prevent the diverging ends of the bar from being drawn ilush with the post when in a position trans verse thereto.

3. A vehicle curtain fastener', comprising a slotted post, a cross pin and a cross bar upon the pin exceeding in length the width of the post, and mounted in the post slot for movement into and out of alinement therewith, said bar having means integral therewith acting automatically, when the bar is in angular relation and with its free end in immediate proximity to the post side, for projecting it into a position to extend beyond both sides of the post, for the purpose described.

4. A vehicle curtain fastener', comprisingr a slotted post, a cross-piu near the top of the post, and a cross-bar, pivoted in the post top on said pin, said bar having a spring section at one end extending at an angle to the plane of fashioned to form inclined diver-ging members, and a crosspin near the post top on which the cross-bar is pivoted, said cross-bar being provided with means for maintaining its inclined end members beyond the edges of the slotted post.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. CHARLES E. CHAMBERLIN..

Witnesses i JAMES f'l'rf'r'rmioitm l. M. HULBERT. 

